Vivian Blake’s car pulled toward Ashford General Hospital.
Online, the countdown to her “death” had gone fully viral.
The comment sections were on fire.
“Honestly?
Respect.
She’s bold about who she loves and who she doesn’t.
Nothing wrong with owning that.”
“Agreed.
Plenty of women like Nathaniel Cole.
As long as she stays out of an actual marriage, that’s her business.”
“I only knew about her because of her villa tours and livestreams gave a real glimpse into how the rich live.
Such a shame she’s dying.”
“Who even is Nathaniel’s wife?
Can’t she just step aside gracefully?
Vivian only has six months.”
“I know who she is, some behind-the-scenes musician named Eliana Hart.
Heard she quit working the second she married into money.
Total trophy wife now.”
…
At Ashford General.
Eliana’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing calls and texts pouring in from acquaintances.
Some concerned, some fishing for gossip, some outright mocking, all circling the same topic: Vivian and Nathaniel.
She’d glanced at the headlines earlier and caught wind of the death countdown story.
She hadn’t bothered watching past the first few seconds.
None of it mattered to her anymore.
Once the cooling-off period ended, she and Nathaniel would be strangers.
Time slipped by.
She checked her watch, then looked up to see Chloe crossing the lobby toward her, bag in hand.
“How are you feeling?
Is anything hurting?” Chloe asked, worried creasing her face as she helped Eliana to her feet, noting the paleness in her cheeks.
Eliana just smiled and shook her head.
She’d made her choice.
Some of the fallout, she’d simply have to carry alone.
Chloe knew exactly what was running through her friend’s head, but all she could do was sigh and guide her gently toward the elevator.
Ding.
The doors opened onto the ground floor.
The lobby was busier than usual Eliana even spotted a few press badges scattered through the crowd.
“That many people, cameras too must be some celebrity here for an appointment again, they’re always like this” Chloe was mid-ramble when her face suddenly shifted.
She grabbed Eliana’s arm, trying to steer her the other way.
Too late.
Eliana had already seen them.
Two familiar figures.
The man was tall, striking, magnetic even in a crowded lobby, his hair perfectly styled, his tailored Italian suit untouched by the chaos around him.
The woman beside him was small, thin, pale in a way that only made her look more fragile, more sympathetic.
She stumbled over something, and he caught her instantly, pulling her against him, shielding her from the onlookers.
Nathaniel Cole.
Vivian Blake.
“Don’t look, don’t look at them!” Chloe hissed, furious, trying to block Eliana’s line of sight while muttering curses under her breath.
“Chloe, let’s just go,” Eliana said.
She’d already decided to walk away from Nathaniel for good; the last thing she wanted was for him to learn why she was really here, or to run into either of them right now.
“Go where?” Chloe was even angrier now.
“You two are only in the cooling-off period, you’re not divorced yet!
He’s still your husband, technically, and he’s out here cozying up to another woman in public?
That’s outrageous!”
Husband.
Eliana looked away.
There had been a time that word alone could make her secretly glow with happiness.
Not anymore.
“Chloe, I’m not feeling great, can we just go?” Eliana redirected, and it worked instantly Chloe’s focus snapped back to her health, forgetting the couple across the lobby entirely.
As Eliana turned to leave, Vivian caught sight of her through the crowd.
A flicker of satisfaction crossed her eyes.
“Nathaniel, I’m so sorry I keep dragging you into all this,” Vivian said, guilt written across her face.
“I know you hate dealing with the press, but I just”
“Don’t worry about it.
Let’s see the doctor first,” Nathaniel said, his expression unreadable.
For half a second, something flickered at the edge of his mind.
He couldn’t quite catch it before it slipped away.
They went in together for her appointment.
Vivian handed over her file.
The doctor’s frown deepened the longer he studied it.
“This is a serious case,” he said.
Vivian managed a soft, resigned smile.
“I know.”
She took a breath.
“Doctor, I’d like something strong for the pain, if that’s possible.”
“Given where things stand,” the doctor said, still scanning the chart, “my recommendation is inpatient care.
We should be pursuing aggressive treatment to buy you more time.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Vivian’s smile turned bitter.
She wiped at tears gathering in her eyes.
“I don’t want any more treatment.”
Beside her, Nathaniel’s grip on her hand tightened.
She only shook her head.
“Doctor, I just want to spend whatever time I have left with some dignity,” she said.
“Please just the painkillers.”
The doctor exhaled heavily, but finally nodded in understanding.
Outside the door, reporters filmed every second of it, broadcasting live.
The internet erupted.
“God.
This is a real person’s actual life, ending like this.”
“I cry over a stubbed toe and she’s facing terminal cancer with a smile.
She’s incredible.”
“Sobbed when she said she was giving up treatment.
You don’t understand that feeling unless you or someone you love has been through it.”
Sympathy for Vivian hit an all-time high.
…
She got her prescription quickly.
By the time they stepped outside, Eliana was sitting on a bench nearby, waiting for Chloe to bring the car around from the garage.
Before Eliana even registered what was happening, sharp-eyed paparazzi spotted her and swarmed all three of them at once.
Camera flashes went off in rapid fire.
Nathaniel spotted her too.
His brow furrowed.
“What are you doing here?”
Eliana stood.
She looked at him, then at Vivian’s hand curled around his arm.
Before she could get a word out, someone in the crowd was already stirring the pot.
“Mrs.
Cole, did you come here specifically to catch your husband cheating after seeing the story online?”
“Mrs.
Cole, thoughts on your husband being spotted in public with another woman?”
“Mrs.
Cole, what do you plan to do about Vivian Blake?”
Everyone assumed her presence here was deliberate, an ambush, a confrontation staged to intercept Vivian.
Even Nathaniel thought so.
His irritation flared back to life.
“Vivian is sick.
Did you not know that?” His voice carried a clear warning.
Eliana felt only bitter amusement.
He genuinely believed she’d come here to target a dying woman.
She’d never sink that low.
“Eliana!” When she stayed silent too long, and reporters started turning toward Vivian for a reaction instead, Nathaniel called her name sharply.
He wanted her to defend Vivian publicly.
Just like every other time.
Obey the order.
Fall in line.
Except she didn’t want to anymore.
She didn’t even want him anymore so why would she still take orders from him?
Her hand moved instinctively to shield her stomach; the ache low in her abdomen still hadn’t faded.
“I’m here visiting a friend.” That was the only thing Eliana said.
She was still inside the cooling-off period.
The last thing she wanted was her pregnancy exposed, or a dozen more people asking why she was really at the hospital.
The answer would have to do, for Nathaniel and everyone else.
She turned to leave.
The reporters weren’t finished with her.
They pressed in tighter, blocking her path.
“Mrs.
Cole, are you aware how many people online think you should just step aside and let Mr.
Cole be with Ms.
Blake?”
“Mrs.
Cole, you clearly know she’s dying and you’re still going to make this harder for her?”
“Mrs.
Cole”
She didn’t want to answer any of it.
She just wanted out.
The crowd had them boxed into one tight frame now, and no one was making room.
Seeing Nathaniel do nothing to stop it, someone in the crowd shoved Eliana hard from behind.
She stumbled forward, one hand clamping instantly over her stomach.